Tape-dispensing and severing device



June 24, 1952 o. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSING AND SEVERING DEVICE 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 J m um June 24, 1952 o. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSING AND SEVERING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 June 24, 1952 o. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSING AND SEVERING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 June 24, 1952 o. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSING AND SEVERING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 Patented June 24, 1952 TAPE-DISPENSING AND SEVERING DEVICE Oscar P. Erhardt, Derby, Conn, assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application August 18, 1948, Serial No. 44,921

16 Claims.

This invention relates to tape-serving machines, and more particularly to a device adapted to deliver a strip of gummed tape of the desired length for sealing packages, parcels, boxes, or the handle, it results in a more efficient severing operation than would otherwise be the case.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tape-dispensing delike, which tape is commonly made of paper 5 vice of the character described.

and usually is furnished in the form of a roll A further object of the invention is to provide containing a continuous strip, th tape being a tape-serving device which will automatically gummed upon one surface and being fed over a sever a strip of tape dispensed by the machine moistening device and Severed so that the seveither with or without the release of the actuatered strip is ready for application to the package. 11s lever or handle bythe operator.

Such devices as that to which thedprestentf Inc; A $13111 fltlrther obJect of Ithe igvention is to vention relates, are usually provide wi h ee D ew 8 a aD V e me avlng an 05- rolls for contacting the tape upon its upper and cillating operating lever and a severing device, lower surfaces to propel it over the moistemng an actuating mechanism operated by the lever means. This feeding niechaiiism 11s1 conveniently 15 Zgfffighfigggtgigflfiif galpie grgadnglsfcragiligtglgge o erated b an oscilla ing ever avlng a orv p ward and liar stroke, the forward stroke being l y disconnecting the Operating lever from the the operative one, and the rear being an idle actuatmg chanism at the d o a forward stroke which does not operate the feeding mecha- 9 the levernism. The severing device may tcoingenfintly be pr viz g a i gg gefgfi g dgfligleogafitgrgritzg ll 0 erated, or o era e e same zl h t v hizh operates the feed rolls, so that described Whwh may e i d to sever the tape whenever a length of tape is fed it will be sevelther at g i t t forward itroke, a s 1:"; tion. r f e The severing device may be actuated either at lgg a gi l of any deslred length the end of the forward stroke of the lever or W1 reasona 9 t the end of the return Stroke but, in either St1ll another obiect of the invention is to proa vide a tape-serving device having novel means event, it will be actuated after a strip of tape f th 1 th f t f t d of measured length has been fed from the maor Varymg 9 0 a S D 0 ape e 1vchme ereTd bz hthe macahmtefi d th t 0 ese an 0 er en 5 e mven ion conthe present machnile the severing sists in the novel features and combinations of tion m .take place at elther the S parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. That 1s, it may be effected while the osclllat- In the accompanying drawings: mg lever is st ll at the end of its forward stroke Fig. l is a Side elevational View of a tape dis and before it is released by the operator, or the pensing machine embodying my invention; severmg operatmn may take place upon release Fig. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the of the oscillating lever by the operator and the Side Opposite that Shownin Fig 1; return of this lever and associated parts to their 40 Fig 3 is a from elevational View of the initial positions, or the positions occupied prior chine;

' the beginning of a feeding stroke- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing It is also desirable to provide means for adthe parts in another position; justing the length of the strip of tape dispensed Fig 5 is a View similar to Fig 4 showing by the machine, and the present invention prothe parts in Still another position; vides means for effecting adjustment of the 6 is a iew imilar to Fig. 2 with some parts length of tape dispensed at one operation or one removed; stroke of the actuating lever. This adjustment Fig, 7 is a View f the f d portion of the does not ct the Op o of h severing machine showing the parts in a position different mechanism, but only affects the starting posi- 5 from t t Shown in Fig tion of the oscillating lever. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on line It is also a feature of the present invention s s of Fi 2; and that when the severing takes place While the Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectinnal View on line oscillating lever is in its forward position, this 9 -9 Qf Fi lever or handle is disconnected from the 0per- 5-5 To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my ating ratchet wheel of the machine so that the invention, I have shown a tape-dispensing weight of the handle does not impede the rechine comprising a frame consisting of a a my turn of the ratchet and the cutting operation. and a pair of upright side plates]! and I2 these This return is effected by a spring and, as this 69 plates providing between them a basket or space spring does not have to carry the weight of the I 3 for a supply roll of tape I4 which may rest upon the base It. At its forward end, this space is bounded by the partition l5, which partition extends forwardly in a horizontal direction to provide a table l6 over which the tape I1 is fed.

The feeding mechanism comprises a pair of feed rolls 3 and I9. The upper roll i9 is rotatably mounted in a yoke 20 hinged at its rear end at 2| to the frame member l2, and normally urged downwardly or toward the roll l8 by the spring 22. It will be understood that this roll may be raised from the full-line position to the dotted-line position, shown in Fig. 1, in order that the tape may be inserted between the two feed rolls when anew supply is placed in the machine.

The table 15 is provided with an opening 23, and the periphery of the feed roll l8 extends upwardly through this opening so as to contact the underside of the tape. The roll I8 is secured upon a shaft 24, rotatably mounted in the plate I 2, and thus is the driven roll of the feeding mechanism.

As shown more especially in Fig. 6, the shaft 24 extends through the plate l2 and, at-the outside of this plate, carries a small pinion 25. This pinion is in mesh with a gear 2'! rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 28 secured in the plate l2, and secured to this gear is a pinion 29 which is in mesh with a gear 35 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 3|. As will be described hereinafter, means are provided for rotating the gear'35 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 6, and it will be seen that this will also rotate the pinion 26 in a counterclockwise direction which will rotate the shaft 24 and the feed roll I8 in a direction to feed a strip of tape forwardly over the table it.

Mounted at the front of the frame between the two plates and I2, is a reservoir 35 which contains the moistening brush 35, and a bridge plate 31 extends forwardly from the table l and supports a pressure plate 38, designed to press the tape against the moistening brush 35.

Mounted for vertical reciprocating movement, adjacent the forward edge of the table I5, is a knife or severing member 45, this member being provided with an opening 4| (Fig. 3) through which the tape is adapted to be fed when the knife is in its upper position, shown in Fig. 7. The rear surface of this knife, which is in the form of a flat plate or blade, bears against the forward edge ofthe table I6 and, at its lower end,

against a guide roller 42 rotatably mounted on the plate l2. The knife is operated by a vertically disposed link 43 having a nose portion 44 inserted through a slot in the knife, and a spring 45 connected to this nose portion urges the knife .rearwardly against the table It and the roller 42 so that the front edge of the table l6 acts as a stationary shear blade against which the tape is severed when the blade 45' is drawn downwardly.

The link 43 is pivotally connected at t! to the forward end of a rock arm 48, this arm being secured to a shaft 49 which is mounted to rock, or oscillate, in the plate I2. This shaft 49 extends through the plate l2 to the outer side thereof and, on its extended end, carries a bifurcated, or forked, member 50 (Fig. 2) by which the rock arm 48 and cutter are operated, as will be hereinafter explained. It will be seen that, as Figs. 2 and 7 are views taken from opposite sides of the machine, the bifurcated member 59 extends rearwardly from the shaft 49, while the rock arm 58 extends forwardly from this shaft. Therefore, a downward movement of the member 5|] will result in an upward movement of the arm 48 and,

therefore, an upward movement of the knife 40.

Secured to the shaft 3| is a disk or wheel 53,

between the teeth of a pinion 55 rotatably mounted on an arm 51, the arm in turn being rotatably mounted on the shaft 3|. The teeth of the pinion 56 mesh with the teeth of the gear 30 which, as has previously been explained, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 3|. As shown in Fig. 9, the pinion 55 is rotatably mounted on a shortshaft or stud 58 which projects outwardly into an elongated slot 59 in the ratchet wheel 55, so that, when this ratchet wheel moves in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 6, the pinion 55 and arm 51 will be carried with it, due to the engagement of the forward end of the slot 55 with the stud shaft 58. During this movement, the pinion 56 will rotate idly over the teeth of the gear 39, which is the operation during the return movement of the oscillating lever, as will be hereinafter explained.

When, however, the ratchet wheel 53 moves in a counterclockwise direction, the forward end of the detent 55, as shown in Fig. 9, will engage between the teeth of the pinion 55 and, thus, carry the pinion and arm in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft 3|. In this latter instance, however, the pinion 56 will'be prevented from rotating due to the engagement of the detent 55 between the teeth thereof, and, as its teeth mesh with those of the gear 35, the latter will be rotated with the arm 51. It will be seen that the slot 59 is sufficiently long so that there is a slight amount of lost motion between the disk 53 and the pinion 56 on the arm 51. This lost motion is sufiicient to permit the detent 55 to withdraw from between the teeth of the pinion when the ratchet wheel is moved in one direction, and to engage between the teeth of the pinion when the ratchet wheel is moved in the opposite direction.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 3!, on the outer side of the ratchet wheel 53, is a mask in the form of a second disk 6|, shown more especially in Figs. 4 and 5. This disk is provided with two spaced notches or recesses 52 and. 63, the

spacing of which should be a multiple of the spacing between the notches 54, so that when the notch 62 registers with one of the notches 55, the notch 63 will register with another thereof, although not necessarily with an adjacent one. It may also be noted that the disk 6| is of substantially the same diameter as the disk 53. The disk 6| is provided adjacent the notch 53 with a laterally projecting stop or ear '64, and pivotally mounted at 55 on this disk is a detent or pawl 65 having a laterally turned lug 57 adapted to lie in the recess 62 and also one of the notches 54. The pawl is normally held in this position by the spring 68, and this will serve to lock the disks 53 and BI together. However, by pressing downwardly on the end 69 of this pawl, the lug 6'. may be moved upwardly out of the notches 54 and 52 and, thus, release the disks so that the disk 6| may be rotated relatively to the ratchet 53, and secured thereto in another adjusted position. As will be hereinafter explained, this serves to adjust the length of a strip of tape dispensed by the machine.

An oscillating lever or handle member 'H is provided to operate the device, the operator engaging the outer end 12 of the handle for this purpose. The inner end of this handle is pivoted upon the shaft 3! by means of an elongated slot 13, provided in the handle, so that the latter may not only rotate about the shaft 3i, but may also move radially of this shaft and of the ratchet wheel 53 and disk 6|.

The handle H is provided with a detent or finger M adapted to enter one of the notches 54 in the ratchet wheel 53 (and notch 83 in disk El), when the handle is in its innermost position, the finger, however, being disengaged from the notch 5 1 when the handle is moved radially outwardly, as permitted by the slot '13. The engagement of the finger M in the notch 5 takes place when the surface of the handle member 1] is in engagement with the stop $4 on the disk 6%, as shown for example in Figs. 2 and 4.

A spring 16, secured at l"! to the disk 6!, is trained around a guide sheave i8 loosely mounted on the shaft 3!, and is secured at its other end to an arm 19 fixed upon the lever ll, so that this spring tends to urge the lever radially inwardly, and also in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, for example, about the shaft 3i so as to maintain the surface 15 against the stop at. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, and the finger TM. is engaged in one of the notches 54, the end 86 of the arm it lies above a laterally projecting lug ti on the detent 65 and, as seen in Fig. 2, when the other end of the detent is pressed inwardly so as to move it from the full-line position shown in Fig. 2 to the dottedline position, this results not only in lifting the lug Bl from the notches 54 and so, but also moves the handle ll radially outwardly so as to disengage the finger 14 from the notches 54 and 53. This will permit the disk 5| to be rotated relatively to the ratchet wheel 53 and, as the handle H is held against the stop 64 by the spring 16, the handle H will move with the disk and the finger 14 will enter a new notch 54 in the ratchet wheel 53 when the detent $5 is released. This will adjust the starting position of the handle H on the ratchet wheel 53 and adjust the length of the strip of tape delivered by the machine.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, a sheave or grooved pulley 83 is secured to the shaft 3| between the frame plates II and I2, and a spring 85, secured at one end to this sheave and at its other end to a pin 85 secured on the plate l2, tends to rotate the ratchet wheel 53 in a clockwise direction, as

shown in Fig. 6, for example, which is the return movement of this ratchet wheel. The disk 51 being normally locked to the ratchet wheel .53 will also be returned by this spring, as also will be the handle member when, and if, the finger id is engaged in one of the notches Thus, the return movement of certain of the parts, after an operative stroke, is effected by means of the spring 84.

Pivotally mounted at .81 on the outer face of the plate i2 is an arm 88 which carries a laterally projecting stop pin 8Q, this arm having a rear position, shown in full lines in Figs. 4 and 5, in which a lower end portion 99 lies against the shaft t9, and a forward position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, in which the portion 88 of the arm lies against a stop screw 9!. In the latter, or forward position, of the arm 68, the stop pin will engage an outer end portion st of the handle H and serve in this way to limit the operative or forward stroke of the machine. Upon release of the handle at this time, the latter, together with the ratchet 53 and disk 61, will be rotated in a clockwise direction by the spring 84 to their initial positions.

When, however, the stop arm 88 is in the fullline position shown in Fig. 4, the pin 89 will engage a cam-shaped member 94 on the lever H and serve to move this lever radially outwardly as permitted by the slot 13, thus disengaging the finger 14 from the notches 54 and 63 and releasing the ratchet wheel 53 and disk 6|, which latter members will be returned to their initial positions by the spring 84, the handle member remaining in its forward position until released by the operator. Upon such release, it will be moved in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, by the spring 16 until it is again engaged with the ratchet wheel 53. When the ratchet wheel is returned to its starting position by the spring 84, this return motion will be stopped by the engagement of the arm 57 with a stop member 96 on the frame member 12 (Fig. 9). The disk 6| and sheave 13 are held in position upon the shaft 3| by the disk 9! (Fig. 2) and the screw 58.

The return movement ofthe ratchet wheel 53 serves to effect the severing of the piece of tape which has been dispensed, as will now be described.

It has already been explained that the knife or severing member 49 is actuated by the shaft 49 upon which is secured the forked member 511.. The ratchet wheel 53 carries a pin Hi9 upon its inner surface, which, as shown in Fig. 2, is adapted to ride into the slot between the forks of this member and move the latter in a counterclockwise direction. This serves to bring the knife downwardly and effect the severing of the tape, and occurs at the end of the return movement of the ratchet wheel. When the operating lever or handle 'H is moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2, the pin IEO rides out of the slot bet-ween the forks of the arm 50 and moves this arm in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 4, for example, so as to move the knife upwardly out of the path of the tape to permit the feeding of the latter past the knife.

Means are provided for holding the knife in its upper position until a return movement of the ratchet wheel, in the form of a resilient member lfi-l secured at one end at I32 to the plate l2 and being free at its other end. At the free end, this member is provided with a laterally extending lug H34 adapted'to overlie the forked member 50 when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 4, and prevent return or downward movement of the knife during an operative stroke of the device. This resilient member It]! is biased to stand outwardly from the plate I2, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. .8, but when the ratchet wheel 53 is in its starting position, as shown in this figure, the pin "30 bears against the inner end of the arm and holds it in its full-line position. The spring is provided with a cam portion 15 and, as soon as the pin I rides out of the slot between the forks of the member .50, it engages this cam portion of the spring Jill and permits the lug I04 to move outwardly over the member 59 so as to hold the knife in its upper position during an operative stroke of the lever H.

A pin I06 secured to the frame member [2 passes loosely through an opening in the spring 10! so as to guide this member in its lateral movements.

It has already been stated that adjustment of the disk 6! relatively to the ratchet wheel 53 serves "to regulate the length of the strip of tape which is dispensed. In order to indicate to the operator the setting of the device, the disk 6! may be provided with an opening I01 (Fig. 2) and the disk 54 provided with numerals exposed through this opening and, thus, inform the operator of the length of the strip for which the device is set.

In operation the parts are shown in Fig. 2 at the beginning of an operative stroke, and the operator presses downwardly on the outer end of the lever M. This serves 'to rotate in a counterclockwise direction the disk SI and ratchet wheel 53, which members are locked together by the detent 66 and also by the finger M on the lever ll. As the ratchet wheel 53 effects movement of arm 51 and pinion 55, this serves to rotate the feed roller l8 and, thus, force a strip of tape forwardly over the knife.

At the beginning of this movement, the pin I90 moves out of engagement with the fork member and raises the knife clear of the path of the tape, the knife being held in this position by the lug I04 on the spring member ml.

If the arm 88 is set in the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 4, the operator releases the arm II when it strikes the pin 89 and the parts are returned to their initial positions by the spring 84. At this time, the pin l Eli] enters between the forks of the member 50 and, by rotating the shaft 49, moves the knife downwardly to sever the tape.

If the adjustable arm 88 is in its full-line position, the cam surface 94 strikes the pin 89 and moves the finger 14 out of the notches 54 and 63, thus, releasing the lever- H from the ratchet wheel 53 and disks 6i, permitting these latter members to be returned to their initial positions by the spring 84, and effect the severing of the tape.

It is noted that the handle H is not moved rearwardly at this time, thus relieving the spring of this much of the load. Iherefore, the cutting operation may take place when the member "I! is in the position shown in Fig. 5, or it may take place when the member H has been returned to its rearward position, depending upon the setting of the arm 88 and pin 89.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the handle is shown in its forward position, but the disk 6! and ratchet Wheel 53 have been returned to their starting or initial positions and, thus, have effected the severing of the tape.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be clear from the above.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A tape-dispensing machine comprising tapefeeding means, an actuating member for said means, a manually operable oscillatable member having a detachable one-way driving connection with said actuating member to move the latter to feed a length of tape, stop means engaging said oscillatable member to limit forward movement thereof and move said oscillatable member out of engagement with said actuating member, and spring means to effect reverse movement of the latter when so disengaged.

2. A tape-dispensing machine comprising tapefeeding means, an actuating member for said means, a manually operable oscillatable member engaged with said actuating member to move the latter to feed a length of tape, and stop means engaging said oscillatable member to limit forward movement thereof, said means having two positions to limit said movement, and means carried by said stop means and said oscillating member which interengage in one only of said positions to disengage said oscillating member from said actuating member.

3. A tape-dispensing machine comprising tapefeeding means, an actuating member for said means, a manually operable oscillatable member engaged with said actuating member to move the latter to feed a length of tape, a stop having two positions limiting the forward movement of said manually operable member, and cooperating means on said stop and said last-named member interengaging in one position of said stop to disengage said manually operable member from said actuating member.

4. A tape-dispensing machine comprising tapefeeding means, an actuating member for said means, a manually operable oscillatable member having a one-way driving connection with said actuating member to move the latter to feed a length of tape, a stop having two positions limiting the forward movement of said manually operable member, cooperating means on said stop a and said last-named member interengaging in one position of said stop to disengage said manually operable member from said actuating member, and means to return said actuating member to its initial position when so disengaged.

5. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, tape-feeding means carried on the frame, an oscillatable actuating member having a oneway connection with said means, a manually operable lever engaged with said member to operate the latter, and means operatively mounting said lever for movement radially of said actuating member to effect disengagement of the lever from said member.

6. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, tape-feeding means carried on the frame, an oscillatable actuating member having a oneway driving connection with said means, a manually operable lever engaged with said member to operate the latter, said lever being movable radially of said actuating member to eifect disengagement of the lever from said member, and means carried by the frame and adapted to be engaged by said lever to effect radial movement thereof at the end of its feeding stroke.

7. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, tape-feeding means carried on the frame, an oscillatable actuating member having a oneway driving connection with said means, a manually operable lever engaged with said member to operate the latter, said lever being movable radially of said actuating member to effect dis-' engagement of the lever from said member, and means carried by the frame and adapted to be engaged by said lever to effect radial movement thereof at the end of its feeding stroke, said last-named means comprising a stop member to limit movement of the lever about its pivot.

8. A tape-dispensing machinecomprising a' frame, tape-feeding means carried on the frame, an oscillatable actuating member having a oneway driving connection with said means, a manually operable lever engaged with said member to operate the latter, said lever being movable radially of said actuating member to effect disengagement of the lever from said member, and means carried by the frame and adapted to be engaged by said lever to effect radial movement thereof at the end of its feeding stroke, said last-named means comprising a stop member adjustable to two positions on the frame, said member effecting radial movement of the lever in one only of said positions.

9. A tape-dispensing machine comprising tape-feeding means, an actuating member for said means, a manually operable oscillatable member engaged with said actuating member to move the latter to feed a length of tape, means to disengage said manually operable member from said actuating member adjacent the end of the feeding movement of the oscillatable member, means to return said actuating member to its initial position independently of said oscillatable member, tape-severing means, and means actuated by the return of said actuating member to effect movement of the severing means.

10. A tape-dispensing machine comprising tape-feeding means, an actuating member for said means, a manually operable oscillatable member engaged with said actuating member to move the latter to feed a length of tape, stop means engaging said oscillatable member to limit forward movement thereof, said means disengaging said last-named member from said actuating member, spring means to effect reverse movement of the latter when so disengaged, a tape-severing member, and connections between said actuating member and said severing member whereby the latter is actuated to sever the tape adjacent the end of the return movement of the actuating member.

11. A tape-dispensing machine comprising tape-feeding means, an actuating member for said means, a manually operable oscillatable member engaged with said actuating member to move the latter to feed a length of tape, stop means engaging said oscillatable member to limit forward movement thereof, said means disengaging said last-named member from said actuating member, spring means to effect reverse movement of the latter when so disengaged, a tape-severing member, connections between said actuating member and said severing member whereby the latter is actuated to sever the tape adjacent the end of the return movement of the actuating member, said severing member normally standing in the path of the tape, and means moving said member out of the path of the tape upon an initial feeding movement of the actuating member.

12. A tape-dispensing machine comprising tape-feeding means, an actuating member for said means, a manually operable oscillatable member engaged with said actuating member to move the latter to feed a length of tape, a stop having two positions limiting the forward movement of said manually operable member, cooperating means on said stop and said lastnamed member interengaging in one position of said stop to disengage said manually operable member from said actuating member, means to return said actuating member to its initial position, and separate means to return said oscillatable member to its initial position.

13. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, tape-feeding means carried by the frame, an oscillatable actuating member for said means, a manually operable lever having a one-way driving connection with said actuating member, said member and lever being pivoted to swing about a common axis on the frame, a stop on the frame to stop the lever at the end of its forward stroke, means to adjustably connect said lever to said actuating means to vary the length of the stroke, means to effect a return movement of the actuatin member, and means to limit said return stroke.

14. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, tape-feeding means carried by the frame, an oscillatable actuating member for said means, a manually operable lever, said member and lever being pivoted to swing abouta common axis on the frame, said member having a plurality of recesses in its periphery, said lever having a finger engageable in a predetermined one of said recesses, means mounting said lever for movement radially of said member to disengage the finger therefrom, and a stop adjustably carried by said member to engage the lever and determine the recess in which said finger engages.

15. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, tapefeeding means carried by the frame, an oscillatable actuating member for said means, a manually operable lever, said member and lever being pivoted to swing about a common axis on the frame, said member having a plurality of recesses in its periphery, said lever having a finger engageable in a predetermined one of said recesses, means mounting said lever for movement radially of said member to disengage the finger therefrom, a mask movable on said actuating member and adapted to cover certain of said recesses and prevent engagement of the finger therein, said mask having a stop to engage said lever and means securing said mask in adjusted positions on the actuating member.

16. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, tape-feeding means carried by the frame, an oscillatable actuating member for said means, a manually operable lever, said member and lever being pivoted to swing about a common axis on the frame, said member having a plurality of recesses in its periphery, said lever having a finger engageable in a predetermined one of said recesses, said lever being movable radially of said member to disengage the finger therefrom, a mask movably mounted adjacent said actuating member to cover certain of said recesses and prevent engagement of the finger therein, and a detent on said mask adjustably connectin it to said actuating member, said detent also engaging said lever to move it radially with respect to its axis.

OSCAR P. ERHARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,749,407 Beach Mar. 4:, 1930 1,788,949 Grunwald Jan. 13, 1931 1,931,369 Arnold Oct. 17, 1933 2,066,619 Gautier Jan. 5, 1937 2,334,261 Handley Nov. 16, 1943 2,384,575 Stull Sept. 11, 1945 

